People
NEW YORK — Harvey Weinstein pleaded not guilty to rape and criminal sex act charges in a brief hearing Tuesday before a judge in New York, and his lawyer vowed afterward to try to beat the case even before it goes to trial.
Weinstein limped from an SUV and was escorted past a big crowd of journalists before spending a few minutes answering a series of yes and no questions from the judge asking if he understood his rights.
He didn't stop to speak with journalists or respond to shouted questions and was back in his waiting SUV in just 40 minutes. His attorney, Ben Brafman, told reporters the case was “imminently defensible” based on what they have learned about the evidence.
A grand jury indicted Weinstein last week on charges involving two women.
One alleged victim, who has not been identified publicly, told investigators that Weinstein cornered her in a hotel room and raped her. The other accuser, former actress Lucia Evans, has gone public with her account of Weinstein forcing her to perform oral sex at his office in 2004. The Associated Press does not identify alleged victims of sexual assaults unless they come forward publicly.
Dozens more women have accused him of sexual misconduct ranging from harassment to assault.
The 66-year-old Weinstein has denied all allegations of nonconsensual sex. Brafman has challenged the credibility of his alleged victims and says his client is confident he is going to clear his name.
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ASBURY PARK, N.J. — Bruce Springsteen will perform at a refurbished 1960s bowling alley-turned music venue in the New Jersey shore town he has immortalized in songs.
Springsteen will be the special guest in Asbury Park on June 18 at the Asbury Lanes concert to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Monmouth County. The venue reopened last month after major renovations.
Grammy-winning Portugal The Man will headline the show with Tangiers Blues Band.
Tickets are hard to come by. Asbury Park Now and AsburyLanes.com will host a giveaway. Each will offer one fan two free tickets plus a free night's stay at The Asbury Hotel.
In addition, 100 Asbury Park residents will each have an opportunity to win two free tickets through an online lottery.
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WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Kathy Griffin was honored Tuesday by West Hollywood for raising more than $5 million for HIV/AIDS services and LGBTQ causes.
The city presented Griffin with a Rainbow Key Award as part of an annual ceremony honoring individuals who have made contributions to the LGBTQ community.
Griffin is in the midst of a comeback following the uproar after she posed for a photo shoot while holding a fake severed Donald Trump head in May 2017.
Griffin apologized, but later retracted it.
The comedian addressed the fallout of the image, which included death threats and lost jobs, in April before she embarked on a North American tour.
West Hollywood is a city of 36,000 between Los Angeles' Hollywood neighborhood and Beverly Hills.
By The Associated Press
